Sunday, August 25, 2013

Rubi del Mundo
NDFP-Southern Mindanao
August 24, 2013Upon orders of the National Democratic Front Southern Mindanao, Private
First Class Rodello Canada Arigonan (serial number 776045) was released today
in Barangay Panangan, Maco town, CompostelaValley at 1pm.Arigonan, a 1001st Brigade Headquarters utility personnel of 23 years, was
released to members of the Sowing the Seeds of Peace and to Davao City Mayor
Rodrigo Duterte. Arigonan's wife was prevented by the military from meeting
with her husband at the New People's Army release site. She was, instead,
confined to the Brigade headquarters in Brgy. Mapaang, Maco.
The NDF cited humanitarian grounds as reasons for the release of Arigonan, who
was captured by NPA operatives belonging to the Comval Davao Gulf Sub Regional
Command last August 3 in the vicinity of the military headquarters.

The 1001st Brigade-10th Infantry Division has stepped up its offensive military
operations in Pantukan, Maco and Mabini towns, affecting peasant and mining
communities to pave the way for the resumption of large-scale gold mining
operations of American owned Russel Mining and the NADECOR (Nationwide
Development Corporation) now owned by the Villars and Calalang group. The 28th
Infantry Battalion was already augmented by another company-sized soldiers.

As more and more troops abuse communities and occupy civilian facilities to
ensure the entry of big mining operations, more and more fascist troops would
become targets of NPA's punitive actions. The People's Democratic Government will
continue to impose its revolutionary policies on environmental protection
and in defense of affected masses. It considers as enemies big foreign mining
operators in cahoots with Filipino partners.

MNLF Chairman Prof. Nur Misuari flanked by MNLF political, military and religious leaders taken just before the declaration of independence on August 12, 2013.

"Bangsamoro constitution is an idea whose time has come", declared Chairman Prof. Nur Misuari of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) in Zamboanga City during the last week of July, 2013.

In a
gathering of MNLF political, religious and military leaders from the different
state revolutionary committees and mass supporters from all over the Bangsamoro
homeland of Mindanao, Sulu, and Palawan
(MINSUPALA), a revolutionary government constitution was unveiled. This led to
the proclamation of the establishment of the United Federated States of
Bangsamoro Republik (UFSBR), embracing the islands of Mindanao, Basilan, Sulu,
Tawi-Tawi, Palawan and North Borneo ('Sabah').
The declared capital of UFSBR is DavaoCity.

The Preamble of the drafted different
nineteen (19) Articles of the Bangsamoro Constitution read:

"We, the united people, Lumads,
Muslims and Christians of Bangsamoro Republik, exercising our inherent
sovereignty, do hereby establish this Constitution.

We manifest our common wish to live
together in peace and harmony, to preserve the heritage of the past, and to
cherish and sustain the promise of the future.

We uphold the diversity of our
religions, cultures and traditions. Our differences enrich us. The seas bring
us together, they do not separate us. Our islands sustain us, our aspirations
and dreams as a nation enlarge us and make us stronger.

Our ancestors, who made their homes on
these islands, displaced no other people. Having known war, we hope for peace.
Having been divided, we wish unity and we seek freedom.

We extend to all nations what we seek
from each: peace, friendship, cooperation, and love in our common humanity.

With this constitution we humbly implore
the aid of our Maker and do ordain this constitution."

The reading of the Bangsamoro Constitution
and the proclamation of the United Federated States of Bangsamoro Republik in ZamboangaCity on July 28, this year, was
simultaneously conducted in the different MNLF camps throughout the Bangsamoro
homeland.

Thus, with the official proclamation of
both the Bangsamoro Constitution and the UFSBR government, the next peaceful
political initiative of the MNLF is to bring the case to the Organization of
Islamic Cooperation (OIC). The MNLF holds a 'permanent observer' status in the
global pan-Islamic body, which has been for years recognizing MNLF Chairman Nur
Misuari as the 'spokesman' of the Bagsamoro people of Filipino-occupied Mindanao.

After dispensing with the protocol of formality
in the OIC, the MNLF will again in due time advance the cause of Bangsamoro
freedom and independence to the United Nations (UN).

It is recalled that on December 10,
2000 the MNLF had already elevated the demand and clamour of the oppressive Bangsamoro
people of Mindanao under Philippine
colonialism during the Arroyo regime to the UN Committee on Decolonization. But
this was not seriously followed up following the controversial arrest of the
MNLF Chairman and five escorts in Sabah by the
Mahathir regime. He was later turned over to the Manila government to be
charged for rebellion case, but was eventually released upon the diplomatic
pressure of the OIC being a principal signatory to the September 2, 1996
MNLF-OIC-GRP Jakarta Peace Agreements.

Just like the Arroyo regime, Philippine colonialism under present President Benigno S. Aquino III has no political will to fully implement the 1996 Peace Agreement, but instead is committed to implement the highly suspicious Malaysia-brokered 2013 framework agreement on Bangsamoro with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). This was after closely examining that the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), a bogus regional government created by Philippine Congress under President Corazon C. Aquino, is a "failed experiment."

On this political end game when the present Aquino regime informed the OIC of its intention to abrogate the peace process with the MNLF but only retracted to mean the termination of the GRP-OIC-MNLF peace agreement committee review, this deceptive political maneuver only set free the MNLF from fulfilling its binding commitment to consider the concept of autonomy without sovereignty. This all started with the 1976 Tripoli Peace Agreement mediated by the OIC.

Hence, this has given the MNLF the historic opportunity to resume the original objective of independence for the Bangsamoro homeland MINSUPALA and national self-determination for the Lumad (Animist) and Muslim natives as well as the Christians of the Filipino-occupied territory. Clearly now, the road to 'just and lasting' peace in finally ending the 4-decades long Philippines-Bangsamoro war in Mindanao is the freedom and independence of the colonized Bangsamoro people. This road leads now to the United Nations (UN). On this historic journey for UN recognition and acceptance by the whole humanity of the newly established nation state in Southeast Asia - the United Federated States of Bangsamoro Republik - MNLF Chairman Prof. Nur Misuari has issued this appeal: "We hereby call upon the people of the world, most particularly the United Nations and the UN Secretary General, His Excellency Ban Ki-Moon, to extend their formal recognition and support behind this new state." The rest is future history.

The Grand MNLF Bangsamoro Convergence-Rally at the New Tulay Central Mosque complex on August 19, 2013 explaining the steps to be taken following the declaration of independence on August 12, 2013 at Lampaya, Talipao, Lupah Sug.

From MindaNews (Aug 25): GPH, MILF to meet for 10 days next month to finish annexes

UNTIL NEXT MONTH. GPH peace panel chair Miriam Coronel-Ferrer and MILF peace panel chair Mohagher Iqbal exchange copies of the Joint Statement in the presence of Madame Che Khasnah, head of the Malaysian Secretariat. MIndaNews photo by Carolyn O. Arguillas

The government and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) peace panels on Sunday afternoon ended the four-day 19th round of talks under the three-year Aquino administration, with both panels agreeing to meet for ten days next month to finish the annexes on power-sharing and normalization.

The seven-paragraph Joint Statement signed at 3:55 p.m. said the panels “worked towards the resolution of some of the most crucial issues” and that despite the “sensitivity of these issues,” they remain “committed to the problem-solving approach in order to reach consensus.”

In the spirit of partnership and mutual understanding, they are confident that an agreement will be reached soon,” the statement read.

GPH peace panel chair Miriam Coronel-Ferrer said that they hope to finish the two remaining annexes in next month’s round.

“We will try our best to finish,” she told MindaNews. “We will find a way to complete the annexes,” she said.

MILF peace panel chair Mohagher Iqbal said the ball is in the GPH court. “Ang problema hindi sa MILF” (the problem is not with the MILF), he told MindaNews.

In their opening statements on Thursday, Ferrer said she hoped the parties would “put to sleep the infamous devil in the details and awaken the angel of creativity and compromise.” Iqbal on the other hand said he saw a “ray of hope that the Annex on Power-sharing will be settled and signed by the parties during this meeting” so they can “pour all our remaining stamina on normalization, an issue that is not too difficult to overcome by willing and committed peace partners.”

As early as Day One, however, there was no sign of any signing by the end of this round. Malaysian facilitator, Dato’ Tengku Abd’ Ghafar bin Mohamed had told MindaNews the parties were “working on the language” of the annexes and were expected to bring back the drafts their respective principals.

The panels were supposed to have a plenary session at 9 a.m. Sunday to continue discussions on the Power-sharing draft but Tengku fell ill and was unable to come. The panels cannot hold a plenary session in the absence of the facilitator.

Both panels were ready to stay until late Sunday evening. In fact, GPH panel members had their flights to Manila rebooked from 5:30 p.m. Sunday to Monday morning.

Special Team

The panels opted to have the Special Team on Power-sharing meet instead on Sunday morning to resolve issues that they can, on their level, resolve, even as they remained stuck on some provisions in their working draft, including newly-introduced issues from both sides.

Late Saturday afternoon, sources from both panels and observers who attended the plenary at the State Room of the Palace of the Golden Horses hotel, told MindaNews that issues already resolved at the level of the Special Team on Power-sharing were shot down during the deliberations on the draft, prompting Tengku to ask aloud where the direction of the talks was headed.

“There are conceptual barriers that have to be overcome,” summed up a member of the MILF panel in the Special Team told MindaNews, specifically noting that the future Bangsamoro government is a ministerial form of government, much different from the current system. A member of the GPH panel in the Team acknowledged there are still several issues where both positions are still far apart but “we are in a problem-solving mode.”

The Special Team on Power-sharing and the Technical Working Group (TWG) on Normalization actually began their meetings on August 21, a day before the formal talks opened.

The TWG on Normalization ended Saturday noon its four-day talks with the contentious issues still up for consultation with their respective principals.
Negotiations on power-sharing started in August last year while negotiations on normalization started in November.

The annexes on power-sharing and normalization and the signed annexes on transitional arrangmenets and modalities, and wealth sharing, along with the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro (FAB) that the parties signed on October 15 last year, will complete the comprehensive peace agreement which the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) needs to draft the Basic Law for the Bangsmaoro government, the new autonomous political entity that both parties hope to set up by June 30, 2016.

Language
Unlike the Special Team on Power-sharing, the TWG on Normalization has yet to come up with a common draft and will still be exchanging notes between now and the next round of talks.

The Special Team on the other hand has a common draft whose paragraphs are color-coded: black for approved final text at their level, gray for almost, red for the government’s proposed wording and green for the MILF.

Secretary Teresita Quintos-Deles, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process had told the Mindanao Business Conference on August 8 in Davao City that while there are still “very difficult issues to be negotiated,” both sides have expressed a “shared commitment to complete the remaining Annexes on Power Sharing and Normalization to be able to sign the comprehensive agreement in the soonest possible time.”

She explained that as agreed upon in the FAB, the relationship of the Central Government with the Bangsamoro Government shall be “asymmetric” and therefore different from local government units.

“The Power-Sharing Annex sets out to delineate what are the powers reserved for central government, the powers fully devolved (or “exclusive”) to the Bangsamoro, and which are concurrent powers to be shared by both. The Normalization Annex, on the other hand, will lay out the simultaneous, phased and calibrated actions that will be taken, by both parties, to include the reform and strengthening of the police, the control of loose firearms in private hands, the redeployment of the military, the delivery of socio-economic peace dividends and the decommissioning of MILF forces and weapons so that, in the words of the FAB, ‘they are put beyond use.’

Optimism

An air of optimism marked the start of the four-day talks on Thursday, the first time the panels had 11 observers attending the plenary and the negotiations of the special team on power-sharing and TWG on normalization.

Speaker Feliciano Belmonte of the House of Representatives sent three Mindanawons to observe on Thursday and Friday – Deputy Speaker Pangalian Balindong of Lanao del Sur, Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez and North Cotabato Rep. Jesus Sacdalan.

Five of the seven government nominees to the 15-member Bangsamoro Transition Commission were also here on Thursday and Friday: former Ambassador Akmad Sakkam; Johair Wahab, former chief legal counsel of the GPH peace panel; Froilyn Mendoza, aTeduray who co-founded the Téduray Lambangian Women’s Organization, Inc.; Talib Benito, Dean of the King Faisal Center for Islamic, Arabic and Asian Studies at the Mindanao State University in Marawi City and former Isabela City councilor Eisma of Basilan.

Mindanao’s civil society had three representatives as observers — Patricia Sarenas, chair of the Mindanao Coalition of Development NGO Networks (Mincode); Mary Ann Arnado, secretary general of the Mindanao Peoples Caucus; and Salic Ibrahim, chair of the Citizens Coalition for ARMM Electoral Reforms, Inc.

It was the first time in 12 years that civil society representatives from Mindanao attended the talks as observers.

Salic told MindaNews he was “lipay” (happy) to have been allowed to observe and listen to the discussions. “The talks are not easy. The stance of the negotiators can influence the process, whether to hasten or to delay,” he said.

From ABS-CBN (Aug 25): AFP to maintain normal alert for rally vs 'pork'The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will maintain its normal alert status for the “Million People March” against the corruption-tainted congressional pork barrel or Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) in Rizal Park tomorrow.

Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala, AFP public affairs chief, said the military would closely monitor security developments in connection with the protest action.

“We are monitoring the developments on the ground and closely coordinating with our police counterparts,” Zagala said.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) has been placed on full alert status to ensure peace and order during the rally.

If requested by the PNP, Zagala said the AFP is ready to deploy its troops to augment law enforcement operations.

Thousands or even millions are expected to converge in Rizal Park tomorrow to call for the total scrapping of the pork barrel system in both houses of Congress.

The scheduled protest has gone viral in social media with thousands responding to join the “One Million March.”

A group of retired military officers, along with their families, has expressed intent to join the rally to demand the return of the stolen funds and punishment of those who plundered taxpayers’ money.

Left-wing groups from Central Luzon and Southern Tagalog are also expected to join the protest action in Rizal Park.

“We have not monitored any threat. But we are on the lookout because some groups with vested interests can infiltrate the peaceful assembly,” a senior security official said.

The PNP yesterday said it would be using social media to coordinate security matters with organizers and convenors of the “Martsa sa Luneta” tomorrow.

PNP spokesman Senior Superintendent Reuben Theodore Sindac said they are relying on announcements and posts on Twitter and Facebook to coordinate its own security preparations for the event.

PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima has ordered National Capital Region Police Office director Chief Superintendent Marcelo Garbo Jr. and the Manila Police District under Chief Superintendent Isagani Genabe to ensure peace and order during the assembly.

The PNP’s main concern is to prevent lawless elements and threat groups from taking advantage of the situation, Sindac said.

He urged convenors of the event to coordinate their activities with police authorities through PNP SMS hotline 09178475757 or emergency hotline Patrol 117.
Meanwhile, an environmental group yesterday reminded the rally participants not to leave their trash in Rizal Park.

“As citizens from all walks of life assemble in Luneta tomorrow to appeal for truth and accountability, we urge everyone not to defile the historic park with litter,” said Aileen Lucero, acting national coordinator of EcoWaste Coalition.

“Our demand to end corruption is not an alibi to turn the park into a dump for cigarette butts, food leftovers and wrappers, plastic bags and even political leaflets,” she added.

From the Philippine Daily Inquirer (Aug 25): Pentagon chief to stress US ‘pivot’ in Southeast Asia tour‎US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel kicks off a Southeast Asian tour on Sunday
meant to stress Washington’s so-called “pivot” back towards the Asia-Pacific but
with attention diverted by trouble in the Middle East.

The Pentagon chief’s week-long trip is part of a concerted effort by
Washington to rebalance America’s strategic priorities towards the Asia-Pacific.

But crises in the Middle East continued to demand Hagel’s attention,
particularly accusations that the Syrian regime had carried out a chemical
weapons attack that left hundreds dead.

He told reporters aboard his plane that the US military had provided
President Barack Obama with a range of options for possible intervention and
forces had been redeployed as required.

With Egypt in turmoil after the ouster of president Mohamed Morsi and a
subsequent crackdown, Hagel also spoke Saturday night to Egyptian army chief
General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi about the volatile situation, US officials said.

On Sunday, Hagel is due to meet his Malaysian counterpart Hishammuddin
Hussein as well as Prime Minister Najib Razak, before delivering a speech later.

US officials said Washington wanted to cultivate military ties with Malaysia
and other governments in Southeast Asia to ensure stability in the region and to
encourage a peaceful resolution of territorial disputes in the South China Sea.

China’s assertive stance over the waterway has raised concerns in Washington.

Beijing claims virtually all of the South China Sea and has stoked rising
concern among rival claimants, particularly the Philippines, of a gradual
takeover of disputed islets.

The Pentagon is offering help to Southeast Asian countries with ships, aerial
reconnaissance, joint training and other initiatives as they try to better
monitor their coastal waters.

A senior defence official, briefing reporters travelling with Hagel, rejected
speculation that budget cuts hitting the Pentagon’s military spending would
spell an end to the “pivot”.

“There’s a myth out there,” said the official, who spoke on condition of
anonymity. But he said “reports of the end of the rebalance, that we can’t fund
the rebalance, are greatly exaggerated”.

“We have adequate means to support this strategy and to do so for the
foreseeable future,” the official added.

The United States was increasing the number of ships based in the
Asia-Pacific and pursuing agreements with a number of countries to allow ships,
aircraft and troops to rotate through key ports and airfields, while avoiding
permanent American bases, the official said.

US defence officials are negotiating an accord with the Philippines to allow
for the rotation of more US forces and military assets through the country on
temporary deployments.

After his two-day stop in Malaysia, Hagel heads to Indonesia and then Brunei
for a gathering of defence ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian
Nations.

The discord in the South China Sea is expected to feature high on the agenda
of the ASEAN discussions in Brunei on Wednesday and Thursday, officials said.

Hagel is due to meet his Chinese counterpart, General Chang Wanquan, on the
sidelines of the ASEAN session, after having hosted the general in Washington
earlier this month.

From the Philippine Daily Inquirer (Aug 25): Hagel to meet with Aquino on US troops

US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel is scheduled to meet with President Benigno
Aquino III this week to discuss the current negotiations for the framework
agreement on the increased rotational presence of American soldiers in the
Philippines, the US Department of Defense said Friday.

Hagel will also be meeting with his counterpart, Defense Secretary Voltaire
Gazmin and Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario.

The framework agreement that would pave the way for more US troops coming to
the Philippines and giving them access to military facilities is largely viewed
as a deterrent to China’s increasing presence in the South China Sea (West
Philippine Sea).

The Philippines and China continue to be locked in a territorial dispute,
particularly in the Panatag Shoal off Zambales and the Ayungin Shoal in the
Kalayaan island group or Spratlys.

According to the Department of Defense statement released Friday, Hagel will
talk to President Aquino, Gazmin and Del Rosario “about ongoing negotiations for
a framework agreement that would allow US forces to operate in Philippine
military bases and in Philippine territory and waters to help build the
Philippine armed forces’ capacity in maritime security and maritime domain
awareness.”

Hagel is in Honolulu, Hawaii, his first stop on a weeklong, four-nation tour
of the Southeast Asian region where he would be attending the Asean Defense
Ministers Meeting Plus in Brunei.

Hagel will be in Manila on Aug. 29 and 30.

Two weeks ago, the Philippines and the United States began the negotiations
for the framework agreement on the increased rotational presence of US soldiers
in the Philippines, where the Americans can have access to the military
facilities of the country.

The framework, however, would not include the operational details so as not
to compromise national security, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) had
said.

Philippine negotiators have explained that having a framework agreement was
necessary as military activities are not specified in the Visiting Forces
Agreement (VFA) and the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT).

The DFA has explained the need for an increased rotational presence of US
troops to have “a minimum credible defense posture… to enhance maritime domain
awareness and develop a deterrence capability.”

“This can be accomplished through high-impact and high-value joint exercises
which promote interoperability and capacity building that will also bolster
humanitarian assistance and disaster response,” it said.

The Philippine government has stressed that its new defense policy was not
for a basing agreement for the US military which the Constitution prohibits.

US
defense giant, Raytheon Company, said it has been contracted to build the
Philippine National Coast Watch Center for USD18 million.

The contract was awarded July this year and will end July 31, 2015.

Dept. of National Defense officials are still to give an official statement
on when and where the contract was signed and the exact date it will be
implemented.

This is Raytheon's first border security-related contract in Southeast Asia.

Under the two-year base contract, Raytheon will design and construct an
NCWC; support integration of data from various agencies into the NCWC; and
provide acquisition, installation and training on an automatic identification
system as well as radio communications for the Government of the Philippines.

From the Philippine News Agency (Aug 25): PHL gov't, MILF panels to meet again in September

Both panels of the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation
Front have agreed to meet again in September.

This was gleaned from a press release by the Office of the Presidential
Peace Process after the two sides ended four days of talks Sunday in Kuala Lumpur.

An official statement released to media said the two sides achieved
"substantial progress in the discussions towards finalizing the Annexes on
Power-sharing and Normalization to the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro.

During the four-day meeting, the Parties tried to resolve some of what it
called the crucial issues without identifying these.

It only said "In the spirit of partnership and mutual understanding,
they are confident that an agreement will be reached soon.

"They agreed to meet again in September 2013." It did not say
where the meeting would be held.

While talks are under way in Kuala
Lumpur, Malaysia
between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), the GPH
and MILF ceasefire panels will conduct an onsite verification on Monday on the
reported presence of Jemaah Islamiyah (JI)-linked terror group in Lanao del
Sur.

Representatives from both sides will start the visit with a
"kanduli" (thanksgiving) in the form of "boodle fight"
among soldiers and MILF leaders inside the 603rd Infantry Brigade camp in
Barangay Tugaig, Barira, Maguindanao.

Both the joint GPH-MILF ceasefire committee and the joint AHJAG (Ad Hoc
Joint Action Group), composed of MILF, representatives from the rebel group,
the Philippine police and Army, help enforce the anti-crime drive against
lawless elements and terrorists in areas identified with the Moro rebel group.

Col. Noli Orense, 603rd Army brigade chief, and his staff will lead the
send-off rite for the joint verification team. The team will inspect alleged JI
hideouts in Lanao del Sur where alleged bombers that carried attacks in Cagayan
de Oro City and CotabatoCity were trained.

Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Toto Mangudadatu said his office gives all-out
support to the verification mission of the government, the MILF and the
Malaysian-led International Monitoring Team.

Army and police intelligence units claimed Zulkifli bin Hir, also known as
Marwan, a senior leader of the JI, was reportedly in Lanao del Sur or
Maguindanao and supervised the bombing incidents in southern Philippines.

From the Philippine News Agency (Aug 25): MILF focuses on peace process than to oppose or favor increase US forces in PHL

Officials of Moro Islamic Liberation Front(MILF)are not affected by the
plans of Manila and the United States to increase American forces in the
country as it has something to make itself busy with - the Mindanao peace
process.

Asked for comments about impending additional US forces in the country as
territorial dispute with China remains a contentious issue Philippines is
facing, Ghadzali Jaafar, speaking for the MILF as political affairs chief, said
the GPH-MILF peace process in southern Philippines is taking a different path
and objectives with that of the US and Philippine governments.

"Our concern is more of the peace process, its gains and its
future," Jaafar said in a national radio interview."We would rather
have a hands-off policy in the issue of the GPH-US talks in increase military
presence in the country."

The panels of chief government negotiator Prof. Miriam Ferrer-Coronel and
her counterpart in the MILF, Mohaqher Iqbal, are currently in Malaysia trying
to finish the annex on power sharing of the soon to be established Bangsamoro
government. A framework agreement had been signed in last October, three months
after Philippine President Aquino met personally with MILF chieftain Al Haj
Murad in Japan.

The new autonomous political entity will replace the current Autonomous
Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), which both Malacanang and the MILF described
as "failed experiment."

Regional Gov. Mujiv Hataman of ARMM on Friday reiterated his support to the
peace initiatives of the Aquino administration and expressed willingness to
step aside to pave the way for the new political unit in Mindanao.

"ARMM leaders are moving forward to fulfill our mandate, as elected
officials, while supporting the ongoing peace talks between the government and
the MILF,” Hataman said, adding that officials elected in May 2013 polls were
in agreement they will all step down to welcome the new political entity that
will replace ARMM.

According to Hataman said regional officials from appointed cabinet secretaries
to the elected regional assemblymen are as ready to step down peacefully.

"ARMM has always put enough premiums to the peace process. In fact, we
made `peace and security’ as one of our pillars in pursuing much-needed reforms
in the regional bureaucracy," Hataman told reporters.

ARMM is composed of the Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu and
Tawi-Tawi.

But while all are supportive of the peace process, the GPH and MILF are
dealing with three major threat groups - the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters
(BIFF), the Jemaah Islamiyah-linked local terrorists and Nur Misuari, chair of
a faction of the Moro National Liberation Front, who declared independence of
Mindanao recently.

But Coronel and Iqbal were as optimistic of the success of the talks. Both
said a well-entrenched political autonomy for Muslims in southern Philippines
will erase efforts to derail the attainment of peace in Mindanao.

From Rappler (Aug 25): 'Big chance' last 2 annexes signed in September - Iqbal

END OF ROUND 39.
(L-R) Government peace panel chair Miriam Coronel-Ferrer, Malaysian
facilitators' secretariat head Che Kashna, and Moro Islamic Liberation Front
(MILF) peace panel chair Mohagher Iqbal sign the Joint Statement at the end of
their four-day exploratory talks in Kuala Lumpur on August 25, 2013.Photo by
OPAPP

Will the final peace
agreement for the Bangsamoro be signed in September?As the government and
rebel group Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) ended the 39th round of peace
talks in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Sunday, August 25, both
sides expressed confidence that the final peace pact would be completed soon.MILF chief negotiator
Mohagher Iqbal told Rappler there was a "big chance" the last two annexes to the comprehensive peace agreement will
be signed in the next meeting."No documents were
signed except for the joint statement [for this round]. There is some window of
opportunity," Iqbal said in a text message.In their joint statement, the parties said:

"During the
four-day meeting, the Parties worked towards the resolution of some of the most
crucial issues. Despite the sensitivity of these issues, the Parties remain
committed to the problem-solving approach in order to reach consensus. In the
spirit of partnership and mutual understanding, they are confident that an
agreement will be reached soon."Both sides still have to
complete the annexes on normalization and power-sharing before the
comprehensive peace agreement can be signed.The documents contain
arrangements on how power will be shared between the central government and the
envisioned Bangsamoro political entity, as well as details on how the MILF and
other armed will be decommissioned and how the Bangsamoro police force will be
created. They will
meet again in September. Independent
Commission on Policing could convene next month

'BIG CHANCE.'
Government chief negotiator Miriam Coronel-Ferrer (L) shake hands with Moro
Islamic Liberation Front chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal (R) during the the
closing of the 39th round of talks. Looking on is Che Kashna, head of the
Malaysian secretariat. Photo by OPAPP

For this round,
technical working groups on the normalization annex flew to Kuala Lumpur two days before the formal start
of the talks to have more time for discussions.

Among the
items discussed in this round was who would compose the Independent
Commission on Policing, which is tasked to produce recommendations for the creation of a police
force for the Bangsamoro.

The 7-member team will be
include a local expert, a representative and an international expert from each
side, with both parties selecting the chairperson.

According to their joint
statement, the commission could be convened during the next meeting.

This round saw an
"unprecedented" number of observers from various sectors.

Aside from regular
observers from the International Contact Group and civil society, three members
of Congress attended the talks as observers. They were Deputy Speaker Pangalian
Balindong, Cagayan de Oro Rep Rufus Rodriguez and North Cotabato Rep Jesus
Sacdalan.

Members of the
Bangsamoro Transition Authority, the body tasked to craft the Bangsamoro Basic
Law, also sat as observers.

Congress has to pass the
basic law, which will serve as the legal basis for the Bangsamoro political
entity, before the new political entity can be established. Once it is in
place, the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao will be deemed abolished.

During the last round,
the government and the MILF reached a breakthrough when they signed the crucial
on wealth sharing.

The MILF is a breakaway
group of the MNLF. Under the Ramos government, the MNLF signed a peace pact
that put an end to their rebellion, but the former rebels are now saying some
of the provisions of the agreement have not been fulfilled.

A soldier who was captured by rebels on August 3 in Compostela Valley was turned over to Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte Saturday “after the family requested for assistance,” the military said Sunday.

Rigonan’s capture was followed by a landmine explosion near the headquarters of the 71st Infantry Battalion in Barangay Pangibiran, Mabini, where the NPA claimed 6 soldiers were killed and 5 others wounded.

But this was vehemently denied by the battalion commander, Lt. Col. Jerry Borja, saying the rebels were “fabricating.”

“We had no casualties. What they did was terror to civilians in the area because the landmine explosion was just several meters away from the nearest neighborhood,” Borja said.

“The bomb explosion last 5 August at 8 p.m. was preceded by the arrest of Private First Class Rodello Canada Rigonan, a 1001st Brigade Headquarters utility personnel. Rigonan was caught by the NPA operatives on 3 August, at 11 p.m. in the vicinity of the military headquarters at Barangay Mapaang, Maco town,” said a statement released by Daniel Ibarra, spokesman of the NPA Sub-regional Command of the Compostela Valley-Davao Gulf Sub-region.

Ibarra said the attack was to avenge the killing of Eddie Canon, a civilian and municipal coordinator of a progressive partylist group in Barangay San Isidro, Mawab town last 25 May and of Ramil Lintas, a motorcycle driver of Barangay Calabcab, Maco town last 25 July allegedly by members of the 1001st Infantry Brigade.

But David had a different version of the circumstances behind Rigonan’s capture.
“Rigonan, a specialized electrician of the unit, was taken by force on August 4, 10 p.m. at the vicinity of their village in Mansaka, Barangay Langgam, Maco, Compostela Valley Province. The latter, who was off-duty, left their house to check on the electrical connection in their community upon the request of their neighbors when he chanced upon a group of men digging holes on the ground,” David said.